Downsize, change color, change bait?

[blackrain]

I have a question for everyone who has encountered this scenario (we probably all have at some point, lol). I had a good day early this week throwing a swim jig in sparse eel grass clumps just adjacent to an island on a large river with moderate current and landed four nice bass in 10 casts, but then there was a 5 minute "lull". I knew there were more bass in this area so the first thing I did was switch to a jackhammer. After about a dozen casts, I switched to a stupid tube. Nada on both. I kept methodically covering the area with the swim jig but either the fish moved, they were spooked by my releasing the ones I caught, or they didn't want what I was offering as an alternative. My question is, what is the first thing you do when you encounter an active school and they stop eating the bait you just caught some fish on? Do you change colors, change lures, or throw a different lure (say a Senko as an example)? Or all the above? Note: I do not have FFS so I cannot know for sure there were more bass in the spot, but it's a picture perfect location and conditions were perfect.

[gulfcaptain]

Go find another spot like that one and see if you can run a pattern. It will reload more then likely but have to let it rest. You probably pulled the fish off that wete there catching the others.  Look around for anything close that offers the same thing you just fished

 

[blackrain]

Thanks, that was my first thought. I typically never livewell my fish but I know at times this helps from spooking the others. It is a huge area and I did search around, with some success but was just curious if I missed some fish by not trying something different.

[Tennessee Boy]

If I caught 4 bass in 10 cast I would not be looking to change anything after a 5 minute lull.  I would make sure I had hit every ell grass clumps in the area.  I might make a few cast with a slower presentation like a Texas rig but if something is working I keep working it.  Maybe after an hour lull I might look for a similar spot as @gulfcaptain suggested.

[blackrain]

Thanks. I admit even at 66, I am still too impatient and love fishing fast too much for my own good. Next time I’ll try a Senko or worm and pick the area apart before giving up. I’m hoping to try that area in a couple days and hope they’ve reloaded. 

[PaulVE64]

Cant tell you how many times I've turned a skunk into multiple hits by changing baits. 

When I first start I rotate thru them fast.

[Bankbeater]

I would change locations.  You may have caught all of the bass out of that one location that were willing to bite.

[PaulVE64]

Tonight's magic happened for my daughters Ukrainian friend with his 1st Ever PB  16" smallie in current with one jump.

That was like seeing a kid score their 1st goal in hockey.

Wishing Art continued luck.

 

[papajoe222]

If I'm confident that there are still fish in the area, I change profiles first.  Going from a fat bodied crank to the long, thin body of a minnow/jerkbait , or flat sided one not only gives the fish a different look, but different vibrations as well.  I've tried changing colors, or size of the same bait and even switching to something altogether different (eg. crank to spinnerbait) and sometimes that will work, too.

  One other thing that many anglers overlook, is changing the angle of your presentation. You'd be surprised how often that will not only get more fish from an area, but get bites from an area that wasn't producing.

As others have mentioned, give the spot a rest and return in 30min. or so.  If they aren't following forage, they are/were there for a reason. They will likely still be there.

[blackrain]

Great advice changing angles of the cast. I have heard this can trigger them or give them a different look at the lure. I’m heading out tomorrow and will give all these suggestions a try, assuming I find active biters again of course. Thanks. 

[txchaser]

Change the presentation of the same lure first. Faster/slower, let that swimjig fall all the way to the bottom and sit for a bit. 

 

Look at the next deepest and shallowest stopping place, like the next dropoff on the way out, or the inside weed edge, on those nearby spots just throw the original stuff. You can probably hit this without moving the boat. 

 

 

Throw something really big/loud, small/quiet. Probably start with whatever matches the vibe of the bite on the swimjig - if they are smoking it hard, go big/loud to start (example - a 6" soft swimbait); if they are barely mouthing it then small/quiet. 

 

 

[blackrain]

I appreciate this advice, especially your mention of changing depth. My gut tells me there were more fish but they moved away and this is where ffs would perhaps help me track where? I also need to get better about changing up the presentation as you mentioned. I can get too locked in (stubborn) to a retrieve thinking “it worked for these bass” and continue doing the same thing for too long and miss out on more fish. The mystery continues, lol. 
 

 

[PaulVE64]

God seems to love a tube fisherman. 

We are rewarded in our faith.